Hippokratia 2004, 8(2):88-92
D Maritsi, A Charalabopoulos, K Charalabopoulos
Physiology Dpt, Clinical Unit, Medical Faculty, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
Abstract
Circulating blood cells in humans originate from a common pool of multipotential haemopoietic stem cells found in the bone marrow. Multiple steps of cell division, differentiation and maturation are necessary before mature effector cells are released into the circulation. Haemopoietic growth factors stimulate the proliferation of progenitor cells being essential for their survival and contribute to the activation of mature cell function. In this review article we are dealing with some haemopoietic growth factors including stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin-3 (IL-3). Some of their biochemical characteristics, their physiological role on the blood cell progenitors, their involvement in the genesis of certain diseases as well as their newly presented therapeutic use are discussed in brief.